Day 1: Shopping on Orchard Road

Instead of looking to the constellations for directions, here’s another cluster of stars to help you plot your journey: the finalists of the Singapore Tourism Awards (STA).

Organised annually by the Singapore Tourism Board, the STA honours the cream of the crop in the tourism industry. Come and experience the stellar services provided by STA winners and nominees—we guarantee that you’ll remember your stay in Singapore for many years to come.

We’ve rounded up this year’s winners and created an itinerary that’s jam-packed with outstanding experiences, so you won’t miss a thing during your trip with us.

Check into The Quincy Hotel (Best Hotel Experience), a boutique hotel that sits conveniently in the heart of Orchard Road, Singapore’s iconic shopping belt. Drop off your luggage in one of the hotel’s well-appointed Studio Deluxe Rooms. It comes fully furnished with a Nespresso coffee machine for that morning cuppa and a Handy phone equipped with mobile internet and free international calls so you’ll never miss home. You may be tempted to lounge in the LED-illuminated deck by the infinity pool and take in stunning views of the city, but don’t stay too long—there’s plenty to explore in the neighbourhood.

Zip through Orchard Road, making a pit stop at each mall that you pass along the way. There’s ION Orchard, which has a good mix of luxury and affordable labels, Scotts Square, home to international designers such as Alexander McQueen and Christian Louboutin, and TANGS, a heritage department store that stocks a plethora of local brands.

You’ll find Bynd Artisan (Best Shopping Experience) at both Scotts Square and TANGS—the local brand draws from its heritage as a bookmaker and leather crafter to create bespoke gifts that’ll make perfect souvenirs.

Cap off your evening with a cocktail from Manhattan (Best Nightspot Experience) at the Regent Singapore. This swish bar inspired by 19th century New York City recently took home the top spot in 2017's Asia’s 50 Best Bars list. Journey through the Big Apple’s boroughs as you sip on drinks with histories that stretch way back into the Prohibition era.

1

The Quincy Hotel

22 Mount Elizabeth, Singapore228517SG

2

Orchard Road

437 Orchard Road, Singapore238878SG

3

Manhattan

1 Cuscaden Road, Level 2 , Singapore249715SG

Day 2: Cuddly animals galore

Wake up bright and early for a full day at Mandai, a district in the north of the island. Catch the melodious song of birds and playful hoots from wild monkeys as you draw nearer to the Singapore Zoo (Best Attraction Experience)—home to over 2,800 animals of more than 300 species. Meet Ishta, the newest ambassador and granddaughter of the beloved Sumatran orangutan, Ah Meng, at one of the park’s biggest exhibits. With two free-ranging areas, you can view the apes from up-close.

Hungry? Make a beeline for Ah Meng Kitchen, a Halal restaurant that serves local delights such as nasi lemak (fragrant rice dish cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaf, accompanied with an array of side dishes like omelette, fried fish and anchovies) and laksa (spicy coconut milk-based noodle soup).

While you’re in the area, drop by the River Safari and Night Safari. At the River Safari, learn about the great rivers of the world, the Amazon and the Nile, and its inhabitants—manatees, monkeys and alligators, included. Then wind your way to the Giant Panda Forest, where Chinese giant pandas Kai Kai and Jia Jia will greet you with their mischievous antics. Once the sun sets, cross over to the Night Safari, the world’s first nocturnal wildlife park. Acquaint yourself with creatures of the night, like the fearsome leopard and spotted hyenas, as you board a tram that takes you through the park in the dark.

If you happen to be in town in October, don’t miss the Halloween Horror Nights? (Best Leisure Event) at Universal Studios Singapore?. Come nightfall, the theme park transforms into a hellish playground, where “ghouls” and “ghosts” run wild and free. Tread carefully through haunted houses that are made to resemble a creepy witch’s lair, a demonic classroom and an army barracks overrun with spirits—you’ll never know what’s around the next corner.

6

Sentosa Island

39 Artillery Avenue, Singapore099958SG

Day 4: Experience the old and new

After a thrilling night of dares and scares, take a well-deserved break by sleeping in. Don’t get too comfortable, though—you’ll be heading to Newton Food Centre, the meeting point where you'll join your tour guide from Tribe. But first, have lunch the local way and fuel up with hawker delights such as fried oyster omelette and Hokkien prawn mee.

On the Disappearing Trades tour (Best Tour Experience), discover more about our storied past from the people who still practise traditional crafts. The tour is led by Mr Toh, a second-generation paper craft maker, who hand-makes large paper houses for Chinese prayer ceremonies. During this four-hour-long adventure, he’ll take you to Singapore’s oldest traditional bakery, and a popular coffee roasting factory where you can sample coffee roasted and brewed Singapore-style—pulled through a sock.

Now that you’ve worked up an appetite, hit up Burnt Ends (Best Dining Experience) for dinner. This Australian-style barbecue joint currently holds the 10th spot on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2017. Sidle up to the counter and take in the smoky flavours as chef David Pynt and team flip steaks, seafood and veggies on the four-tonne, dual-cavity ovens and three elevation grills. And if you do spot the Burnt Ends’ Sanger on the menu board, don’t hesitate to order it. The pulled pork and slaw sandwich is a gratifying combination of sweet-and-savoury treat—a fine end to your riveting four days on the island.